Install Arch on External Hard Drive Bootable on Most Computers

At work I've been using a Mac OS X partition to boot up people's Macs and perform file recovery/partition manipulation. I'm trying to figure out how to install Arch Linux to an external hard drive so that it can be booted by the max number of computers, both PC and Mac. Should I go with grub, grub-efi 32 bit, grub 64, lilo, efistub, etc. for the bootloader? Can anyone give me some guidance on this?
Thanks
Last edited by duke11235 (2013-06-05 03:10:34)

With grub, you can actually specify where the config is located. So you can put the grub config for UEFI in the same path as grub.efi, then the bios grub could still be in /boot/grub like usual. Personally, I would use something else though, as I am not the biggest fan of grub.
I think that you need to read through the grub wiki page, as most of the grub knowledge that i have (which isn't much TBH) came from that page. So the fact that I know this crap and I don't use it, means to me that you haven't actually read through that page very closely. It is a wealth of information actually.
I like using the EFISTUB for UEFI, so I am more of a gummiboot or rEFInd kind of user. Then I use syslinux as my backup bios setup.
I know nothing about requiring rEFInd for UEFI booting from an external HDD. I have never actually tried it. But when I set up UEFI on my old macbook in the ESP, the entry just showed up in the mac bootloader. So unless the Macs don't respect some of the basic UEFI standards (which is a very real possibility) there should be the ability to have multiple ESPs.

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Installing Arch on external hard drive

Hi guys,
I'm trying to install Arch on an external hard drive, and making it bootable. However, I can't install grub on it. The grub installation failed during setup, and when I run grub-install, I get:
/usr/sbin/grub-setup: warn: This GPT partition label has no BIOS Boot Partition; embedding won't be possible!.
/usr/sbin/grub-setup: warn: Embedding is not possible. GRUB can only be installed in this setup by using blocklists. However, blocklists are UNRELIABLE and their use is discouraged..
/usr/sbin/grub-setup: error: will not proceed with blocklists.
ubuntu@ubuntu:/$ sudo grub-install /dev/sdb3
/usr/sbin/grub-setup: warn: Attempting to install GRUB to a partitionless disk or to a partition. This is a BAD idea..
/usr/sbin/grub-setup: warn: Embedding is not possible. GRUB can only be installed in this setup by using blocklists. However, blocklists are UNRELIABLE and their use is discouraged..
/usr/sbin/grub-setup: error: will not proceed with blocklists.
How can I boot without grub, or make grub work?

Well I tried installing GRUB onto MBR first, but it didn't work. That's when I tried to put it onto a partition, but that didn't work either, same message.
fdisk -l /dev/sdb:
WARNING: GPT (GUID Partition Table) detected on '/dev/sdb'! The util fdisk doesn't support GPT. Use GNU Parted.
But reading with gparted (in their order on the disk):
/dev/sdb1 ext4 142.58GB
/dev/sdb3 ext4 3.91GB (that's the Arch / partition)
/dev/sdb2 ntfs 151GB

External hard drive bootable with Mac OS x 10.9

Hello!
i have these: Install-OS-Mavericks DMG file.
but i don't know how to Install the file.
i can to install this at the external hard drive (USB).
please help me!
How to creat the external Hard drive bootable in the Mac Intel or Pro? please give me simple methode!
How to install the OS with the external Hard drive? or any solution.
Thank you very much for your help.
Justin R.

To install the file, if you did not download the Install Mac OS X from the Mac App Store, you must make sure your Mac Pro is compatible, it must be at least a Mac Pro3,1 to install Mavericks. If you are compatible, and want to install on a USB drive, first you must open Disk Utilities (in Finder, Applications, Utitlities) and then select the exernal drive from the devices listed in the left panel of the Disk Utilities window. Then decide if you want one or more partitions on the drive and the size of the partitions. Select each partition one at a time and name the partition and then choose the format as Mac OS X Extended (Journaled), and the Partition Table as GUID, and then Apply to format the drive.
Once that is done you place the Mavericks Installer DMG file on the desktop, double click to open and then choose the drive for installation to be the external drive you have formatted and named.
The installer will install and then delete itself when finished. If you want to keep a copy, make a copy and store it in a safe place, such as your Documents folder.
To boot to the external hard drive, restart the Mac Pro and hold the Option key. That will result in a grey screen with images for each of the bootable drives. Highlight the arrow under the drive you want to boot and then click that arrow again.

Install data from external hard drive?

Hi, we have our old macbook data saved on external hard drive (old laptop had water damage but able to retrieve data). I now have new macbook, how do I install data from external hard drive to new macbook? Is it super easy? I didn't want to set up new laptop until I could understand how to install all our old data. Thanks

Do you have the appropriate cable to connect the external drive to to new Macbook?
If you do, the rest is easy. Connect the drive and start up the new Mac. The first steps in the setup will be to enter information about yourself, etc. etc. As you proceed you will be asked if you want to bring in data from another place. Just follow the directions, and the Mac Setup Assistant will do everything for you.
The critical part is making sure the external is corectly connected to the new computer.

Can programs be installed on an external hard drive with my mac pro?

Can programs be installed on an external hard drive. I am running low on space. Final Cut Pro X spins off the rendering files which takes a large chunk of space. Like to at least have those rendered files on an external drive, but can find that option to make it happen.
Hardware Overview:
   Model Name:   MacBook Pro
   Model Identifier:           MacBookPro10,2
   Processor Name:        Intel Core i5
   Processor Speed:       2.6 GHz
   Number of Processors:           1
   Total Number of Cores:           2
   L2 Cache (per Core):   256 KB
   L3 Cache:        3 MB
   Memory:          8 GB
   Boot ROM Version:     MBP102.0106.B07
   SMC Version (system):           2.6f59
   Serial Number (system):         C02L250VFFRP
   Hardware UUID:          B26BB020-5346-5A3E-BE36-8D63AAF041C4
   Sudden Motion Sensor:
   State: Enabled
   Hard Drive APPLE SSD SD256E:
Kent Mechem

Hello Ian. I am currently using Lion installed on a WD My Passport 500Gig drive connected to my MBPro via USB, which is still running 10.6.8. Like you I am not prepared to lose all my currently functioning Mac, but also like to see how the new OS runs before making the total switch, maybe when it gets to 10.7.2
So after you download Lion and select to run the installer it will show you which disk to install on, being the default SL drive you downloaded Lion with. But here you can click Other Disk and select the external HD. The installer will run and then boot into the external drive to complete the installation. From then on you can use Startup Disk or the Option key to select the preferred OS.

Can Flash Player be installed on an external hard drive?

I have this game I am trying to install on an external hard drive that requires Flash Player and even though it is installed on my computer the game keeps popping up with Flash Player is required for this install. Would you like to install it now? Is there any way to install Flash Player on my external or get the game's installer to recognize it being on the hard drive. I don't want to install the game to my computer. Thanks for any help.

Flash Player is installed on the Windows system32 and syswo64 folders; it cannot be installed anywhere else.
What does that game require: the ActiveX control, or the plugin? If in doubt, install both.

Can I install onto an external hard drive + run off it?

Can I install onto an external hard drive + run off it?
If possible, will the system run at the *same* speed as the built in hard drive?
ALSO: Am I correct in saying that if I replace my current hard drive with an SSD one?
If so: that *****
Thanks
Omar

OS X doesn't matter what disk you boot from, as long as it can be formatted properly in Disk Utility. You can boot from a USB stick drive if it's big enough.
Thunderbolt would be the fastest, the drive would be the limiting factor there. You can find Thunderbolt drives like these at stores like macsales.com. But USB 3 might also feel fast enough.
If you have boot systems installed on many drives connected to your Mac, the way you tell the Mac which one to use is to hold down the Option key at startup. This will present icons of all the connected drives you can boot from, then you just pick one and go.

Installing Windows to external hard drive or using parallels?

Will installing Windows on external hard drive protect mac from viruses better than parallels? Which option is more sound, installing windows on external hard drive or using parallels? My main concern is mac protection. Thanks

Hi,
Thank's for your reply.
Using Parallels and creating a virtual machine, I think it should be possible installing Windows to an external hard drive, shouldn't it?
Message was edited by: Oleguer Vilella

Is a WD My Book Studio Desktop 3TB Hard Drive - FW 400/800, USB 2.0, Apple Time Machine Ready external hard drive bootable with my Powerbook G4 12" PPC 10.5.8?

Sirs or madams,
Is my Powerbook G4 12” PPC 10.5.8 'bootable' with a Western Digital My Book Studio Desktop 3TB Hard Drive - FW 400/800, USB 2.0, Apple Time Machine Ready external hard drive? Western Digital says officially no, but that it MIGHT be. I primarily live in China and bought a datastorage.com.cn Clearlight s400+ external hard drive enclosure with a 320GB disk drive a few years ago in China. My computer 'boots' fine from it, but since I got it in China all the paperwork, etc. is in Chinese; my Chinese isn't quite sufficient enough yet to read it. But there are references to something called "SATA", whatever that is.
My level of computer 'under the hood' knowledge is extremely low. I've been told that SATA has some relationship as to whether or not an external hard drive will boot a computer via the Firewire connection, something relating to 'interface', which I assume is how separate electronic gadgets work, or don't work, with each other.
I frankly don't care much for computers, the internet, or their related gadgets such as all these fancy phones. I longingly reminisce about the days when there were no such things. I use a computer & the internet because I have to, and unfortunately unlike a car where one doesn't have to have 'under the hood' knowledge to operate it, just knowledge of the steering wheel, brake, gas, etc., one seemingly must know a ridiculously great amount of 'under the hood' knowledge, including jargon, to operate computers.
So, please try to respond accordingly; thank you.
If this particular external hard drive won't, for certain, be bootable with my computer, can you advise as to what readily available brand/model would be in the 3TB range for a similar price, roughly $150ish??
Thank you very much.

Mr. BGreg,
Thank you very much. "...under the covers...". I think you meant "under the hood", as in a car. I suppose "under the covers" would be man/woman interfacing, which I am familiar with!
Actually, I'm back in the US now for a few months. I looked at the OWC web site, but only cusorily so far. I'll contact them; they appear knowledgeable about Apple computers.
As to what you wrote about Western Digital's cases, I certainly wouldn't want a poor case. In China I had over time gotten 3 different external drive cases, 3 different Chinese brands, and separately bought Hitachi brand disk drives that 'simply' plugged into the cases. The drives are roughly 80GB 120GB and 320GB. The two larger ones are in cases that have Firewire plugs/jacks, which are bootable with my computer.
So my understanding, as you wrote, has been that my Powerbook will boot from an external hard drive, provided it connects via Firewire, and the disk drive itself is 'normally' formatted with however my computer's own disk drive is formatted, (HFS OS extended (journaled) or some such??). So I was left wondering why Western Digital would indicate that even though their such-and-so external hard drive case/drive was Firewire capable, that they would then say it would not be bootable with my Apple PPC computer......
Well, anyway, since you indicated Western Digital's case quality is suspect, then I'll try OWC and disregard Western Digital.
Naturally, OWC should be able to address this, but your thoughts are also welcome. You mentioned the OWC cases are good with Apples. Would the disk drives OWC supplied with the cases also be of relatively dependable quality?? From my so far only cursory look at their web site they appear to have various options, including case only options where I could insert my own or their own drives. These sorts of options seem preferable, also along with quality components.
My Powerbook has been in use since 2004. In China I put in a 1.25 memory 'chip' in the bottom and installed the 10.5.8 operating system, which I understand are the maximum workable with my Powerbook. When I inquired with Chinese friends if my 1.33 GHz processor could be taken out and a more powerful one put in, they said it wasn't feasible because in my particular computer my processor was, as I recall them saying, soldered/'permanently' connected with the 'motherboard', that it would just be easier to get a new computer.
I would be with them and they would nonchalantly open it completely up showing me all its tightly arranged 'innards' while at least giving it a good internal dust/dirt clean job for cheap lunch and a beer (& so much dirt/dust/lint there was!)...these are the same folks who build the things of course...fast moving hands with tiny screws flying everywhere, but everything 100% all back in place when finished.
My Chinese friends also said that nowadays Apples are not as well built as when my Powerbook was built, that nowadays an Apple's life expectancy was considerably lower, so I fear that when I get a new computer that, though it will be more up-to-date and powerful, etc., it most probably won't last near as long as my Powerbook has. They also said that in an older computer the fan was often the first component to go bad, and if a new one couldn't be easily found, as they said was my case, then you're just left with having to get an entirely new computer. Part of why I dislike electronic computer gadgets generally is that they are obsolete so quickly.
So, anyway, thanks very much for your information.

How do I install Lion on external hard drive? I have purchased and downloaded through App Store but do not know where the download is located so I can install.

I want to install Lion on an external hard drive. The OS was purchased and downloaded through the App Store but I do not know where the file is.

If you downloaded the installer it will be in your applications folder. Failing that use spotlight start typing Install and it should show up.
This is assuming you downloaded the installer from the app store, and didn't just install it onto your mac. If all you have done is install it on your mac. Go to your purchases Lion should show up. Then click download.
Here is the Support page for installing osx on an external drive.
OS X: Installing OS X on an external volume - Apple Support
Hope this helps.
PJRS

How to re-install Yosemite without external hard drive?

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Installing Windows on external hard drive

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Thanks in advance, Ron

RKD56 wrote:
Does anone know how I can install and run Windows from an external hard drive? I use only a couple Windows applications and want to clutter my MacBook internal hard drive.
Thanks in advance, Ron
Check in the bootcamp forum here:
http://discussions.apple.com/forum.jspa?forumID=1244
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You can search the net for them.

Install Arch on External Hard Drive Bootable on Most Computers

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